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Aphantasia: The science of visual imagery extremes

DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-821377-3.00012-x
Keogh, R., Pearson, J., & Zeman, A. (n.d.). Aphantasia: the science of visual imagery extremes. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 277–296. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-821377-3.00012-X

Abstract

Visual imagery allows us to revisit the appearance of things in their absence and to test out virtual combinations of sensory experience. Visual imagery has been linked to many cognitive processes, such as autobiographical and visual working memory. Imagery also plays symptomatic and mechanistic roles in neurologic and mental disorders and is utilized in treatment. A large network of brain activity spanning frontal, parietal, temporal, and visual cortex is involved in generating and maintain images in mind. The ability to visualize has extreme variations, ranging from completely absent (aphantasia) to photo-like (hyperphantasia). The anatomy and functionality of visual cortex, including primary visual cortex, have been associated with individual differences in visual imagery ability, pointing to a potential correlate for both aphantasia and hyperphantasia. Preliminary evidence suggests that lifelong aphantasia is associated with prosopagnosia and reduction in autobiographical memory; hyperphantasia is associated with synesthesia. Aphantasic individuals can also be highly imaginative and are able to complete many tasks that were previously thought to rely on visual imagery, demonstrating that visualization is only one of many ways of representing things in their absence. The study of extreme imagination reminds us how easily invisible differences can escape detection.

Authors

  • Rebecca Keogh17
  • Joel Pearson33
  • Adam Zeman19

What This Study Is About

This research explores the two extremes of the "mind’s eye"—the ability to picture things in your head. It looks at aphantasia (having no mental images at all) and hyperphantasia (having mental images as vivid as a photograph) to understand how these differences affect our brains and memories.

How They Studied It

This paper is a "review," meaning the researchers gathered data from many different studies involving thousands of people. They compared people with aphantasia to "control groups" (people with average imagery) using:
  • Questionnaires: Participants rated how clearly they could "see" things like a sunset or a friend's face.
  • Brain Scans: Using fMRI machines to see which parts of the brain "light up" when people try to visualize.
  • Physical Tests: Measuring things like pupil size and skin sweat to see if the body reacts to imagined objects.

What They Found

The researchers confirmed that aphantasia is a real sensory difference, not just a lack of imagination. Key findings include:
  • The 1-3% Club: About 1% to 3% of people are born with aphantasia.
  • GPS vs. Photos: People with aphantasia often struggle with "object imagery" (what things look like) but are great at "spatial imagery" (where things are). It’s like having a GPS that tells you the directions without showing you a map.
  • Memory Links: Aphantasics are more likely to have trouble recognizing faces and often have less detailed memories of their own lives.
  • Creativity: Surprisingly, you don't need a mind's eye to be creative! Many aphantasics are successful artists and scientists who use "labels" and "facts" to create instead of pictures.

What This Might Mean

This suggests that there isn't just one "right" way for a human brain to work. While most people use a "top-down" approach (the front of the brain tells the back to create a picture), aphantasic brains might skip the picture-making step entirely.
However, because much of this research depends on people describing their own internal thoughts, it can be hard to be 100% precise. Science "suggests" these links, but we are still in the early days of proving exactly why some people are born without a mind's eye.

One Interesting Detail

When most people imagine a scary story, their skin actually gets slightly sweaty because their brain "sees" the danger. But for people with aphantasia, their skin doesn't react at all—showing that without the mental picture, the "fear factor" of a story feels very different!
This summary was generated by AI and may contain errors. Always refer to the original paper for accuracy.